Means for feeding slivers to coilers



12E arr Mamh 1959 'J. R. WHITEHURST 2,878,521?

MEANS FOR FEEDING SLIVERS 'ro COILERS Filed Sept. 12, 11955 4Shasta-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR.

Q JOE P.WHITEHURE T, 1157-2 By @1217 M ATTORNEYS Mamh 24, 1959 J. R.WHlTEHURST 2,878,527

MEANS FOR FEEDING SLIVERS TO COILERS Filed Sept. 12, 1955 4.Sheets-Sheet 2 5 r i i INVENTOR: Joe- R. WwTEHUQsT ATTORNEYfi Mit 1959J. R. WHITEHURST 2,873,527

MEANS FOR FEEDING SLIVERS T0 COIL-ERS I Filed Sept. 12, 1955 4SheetsSheet 3 ATTORNEYS EANS FOR FEEDING SLIVERS TO COILERS Filed Sept.12,- 1955 March 24, 1959 J. R. WHITEHURST 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOEE. WHlTE-HURST BY w M ATTORNEYS MEANS FOR FEEDING SLIVERS T COILERS JoeR. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc,Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina ApplicationSeptember 12, 1955, Serial No. 533,735 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) Thisinvention relates to coiler mechanisms and, more especially, toimprovements in calender rolls utilized for feeding strands of sliverfrom drawing frames, carding machines and other sliver processingmachines into coiler mechanisms which coil the slivers into cans.

As is well known, coiler mechanisms include a coiler head having adriven disk or tube gear provided with an inclined tubular passagewayfor directing sliver from a pair of calender rolls downwardly andoutwardly from the center of the disk or tube gear to be discharged fromthe lower end thereof in off-center relation to the axis thereof to formthe sliver into coils in a can positioned beneath the disk or tube gear.Heretofore, the calender rolls have had smooth peripheral surfaces withboth of the calender rolls of a pair being driven at constant speeds andat the same peripheral speeds and this would cause the calender rolls torotate varying amounts, or slip, relative to the sliver being pulledthereby through the usual trumpet, due to the lack of suflicienttraction between the calender rolls and the sliver. This, in turn, wouldresult in uneven density and thickness of the sliver throughout itslength.

In addition, the smooth peripheral surfaces on the calender rollsheretofore employed have pressed the fibers together to such an extentas to remove most or all of the crimp previously formed in the sliverduring the drafting of the fibers on, for example, a drawing machine.Also, since the types of fibers in and the size of different slivers mayvary, in order to provide for the proper speed of movement of the sliverat the nip of the calender rolls, it has been necessary heretofore tofrequently change gears which transmit rotation from the drawing rollsto the calender rolls.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved calender rollunit for a coiler mechanism comprising first and second fluted calenderrolls in which only the first calender roll is driven and the firstcalender roll imparts rotation to the second calender roll byintermeshing engagement with the flutes thereof and by engagement of therolls with the sliver therebetween, thus insuring ample traction betweenthe sliver passing through the nip of the calender rolls so the calenderrolls cannot slip relative to the sliver and also forming a crimp in thesliver as it passes through the nip of the calender rolls. The crimpformed in the sliver binds the fibers together so as to substantiallyincrease the tensile strength of the sliver as compared to what it wouldbe in the absence of the crimp so the sliver will not become torn apartas it is subsequently withdrawn from the coiler cans.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of thecharacter described wherein the flutes of the calender rolls areprovided with a pressure angle: of eight degrees in order to moreeffectively produce the desired crimp in the sliver, it being well knownthat, heretofore, the flutes of drafting rolls or the teeth of spurgears, for example, have been provided with a pressure angleofapproximately fourteen and onehalf a:

degrees.

" nited States Patent 2,878,527 Patented Mar. .24, 1959 ice It is stillanother object of this invention to provide a calender roll unit forcoilers wherein a first fluted calender roll is fixed on a driven shaftand a second fluted calender roll meshing therewith is rotatably mountedon a stationary shaft with means for adjusting the stationary shafttoward and away from the driven shaft to thereby adjust the speed atwhich sliver is drawn through the nip of the calender rolls toaccommodate slivers of varying size and density. This variation insliver speed is due to the greater surface area of the flutes of the twocalender rolls which is contacted by the sliver when the calender rollsare close together as compared to such surface area when the calenderrolls are spaced substantially apart. a

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated,

- other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- t Figure 1 is afragmentary top plan view of a portion of a drawing frame showing a pairof the improved calender roll units mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is an elevation, partially insection, taken substantially alongline 22 in Figure 1 showing the relationship of the coiler mechanism tothe improved calender roll unit; i

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along line 3-3 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken substantially alongline 44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the blocks for supporting the adjustablestationary shaft on which the floating or idler fluted calender roll ofeach pair is rotatably mounted;

Figure 6 is a somewhat schematic vertical sectional view, on a reducedscale, taken substantially along line 6-6 in Figure 1; i

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper portion of a coilerhead of the type generally used in association with carding machinesshowing another form of calender roll unit embodying the principles ofthe present invention and showing the cover or trumpet tongue for thecalender roll unit in open position;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 88 in Figure 7 and showing the cover for the calender rollunit in closed or lowered position;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure7, also showing the cover for the calender roll unit in raised or openposition;

Figure 10 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially along line 10-40 in Figure 9 and showing the means foradjusting the idler fluted calender roll relative to the driven calenderroll;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional plan view taken substantiallyalong line 1111 in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary and somewhat schematic end view ofthe fluted calender rolls looking substantially along line 12-12 inFigure 9.

The invention is embodied in two forms in the drawings wherein the firstform of the invention is shown in Figures 1 through 6 in associationwith a drawing frame and, in Figures 7 through 12 the invention is shownin association with a coiler head of the type used in association with acarding machine. The drawing frame shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 comprisesan elongated frame or beam 10 having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced brackets or roll stand supports 11 fixed thereon, on each ofwhich a plurality of conventional bearings 13 are mounted. The bearings13 have conventional driven bottom drafting rolls 14 and top draftingrolls 16 journaled therein which exemplify one embodiment of sliverprocessing instrumentalities and between which strands of textile fibersS pass as they are attenuated in the usual manner. The strands S passforwardly from the rolls 14, 16 and are condensed through correspondingtrumpets 17 each of which is associated with a corresponding one of 'theimproved calender roll units broadly designated at 20, there being aplurality of such calender roll units 20, each of which directs theslivers condensed by the corresponding trumpet 17 into and through aninclined tube 22 carried by a disk or tube gear 23.

The disk or tube gear 23 is driven in the usual manner to deposit thesliver S-1 formed from the sliver strands S in coils in a can 25 mountedon a rotatable base 26, which base 26 is rotated by conventional means,not shown, in timed relation to the disk or tube gear 23.

The drawing frame is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 as being equipped withconventional calender roll stands 27 which are shown as being formedintegral with the brackets or roll stand suppoits 11 and a drivencalender roll shaft 30 is journaled in the stands 27 and is driven byconventional gearing, not shown, to rotate in proper timed relation tothe drafting rolls 14, 16. Such conventional gearing includeschange-gears for adjusting the speed of the calender rolls relative tothe drafting rolls 14, 16. The improved calender roll units obviate thenecessity of changing the gears to adjust the rate at which the sliver8-1 is fed into the coiler tube 22, as will be further described laterin this context.

It will be noted in Figure 2 that the upper surface of each calenderroll stand 27 is provided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined slot32 therein for reception of improved adjustable stationarycalender-roll-shaft-supporting blocks 33 which blocks 33 are parts ofthe present invention. The blocks 33 are restrained from endwiscmovement in the slots 32 by pins or screws 33a.

The improved calender roll units 20 each includes a pair of flutedcalender rolls 34, 35, the first calender roll 34 being fixed on thedriven calender roll shaft 30 and the second calender roll 35 beingloosely or rotatably mounted on a shaft 36. Opposite ends of the shaft36 are fixed in the corresponding blocks 33. It is customary to providea separate shaft for every two idler calender rolls. Therefore two ofthe improved calender roll units 20 are associated with each shaft 36,but shaft 30 is common to all such units on a given drawing frame.

It will be noted in Figures 3 and 4 that the flutes on the improvedcalender rolls 34, 35 have pressure angles of eight degrees as comparedto the usual fourteen and one-half degrees of spur gears and flutedrolls such as are normally used as drafting rolls and, in order tominimize the frictional contact between the shaft 36 and the secondfluted calender roll 35, it will be observed in Figures 3 and 4 that thesecond calender roll 35 is tubular and is mounted on the shaft 36 bymeans of anti-friction bearings. In this instance, the anti-frictionbearings are shown in the form of a pair of circular rows of balls 37which fit in complementary grooves 40 and 41 formed in the proximalsurfaces of theshaft 40 and the calender roll 35. It is preferable thata suitable lubricant is provided within the calender roll 35 and,therefore, suitable lubricant seals 42 may be provided on opposite endsof the tubular calender roll 35.

Since the shaft 36 is stationary and the second calender rolls 35 areloosely journaled on the shaft 36, it is apparent that the secondcalender rolls 35 are driven solely by the corresponding first calenderrolls 34 and by the sliver passing through the nip of the calender rolls34, 35. Accordingly, the flutes of the calender rolls 34, 35 insure thatthe rolls cannot slip relative to the sliver S-l passing therebetween,thereby minimizing the variations in thickness of the sliver passingtherebetween. Also, the flutes, and particularly the pressure angle ofthe flutes, causes the sliver -1 to be severally crimped as it passesthrough the nip of the fluted calender rolls thereby compressing thefibers at closely spaced points to an extent heretofore unattainable andthus substantially increasing 4 the tensile strength of the sliver 8-1as compared to what its strength would be if it were not crimped.

The crimping of the sliverprior to its passing through the inclinedtubular passageway of the disk or tube gear 23 minimizes the stretchingof the sliver as it is withdrawn from the can 25 in subsequent processesand, accordingly, minimizes variations in the diameter or size of thesliver as it is subsequently processed. Heretofore, in usingconventional types of smooth-faced calender rolls, there has beenrecurring variations of eighteen percent in the diameter or size of thesliver throughout its length and, without crimping the sliver, as hasheretofore been the case, when the sliver has subsequently beenwithdrawn from the can, it has stretched an average of approximatelythree and one-half percent and this has caused as much or more thanfifty percent variation in adjacent portions of the sliver throughoutits length as it was withdrawn from the can in subsequent processingoperations. The improved fluted calender rolls have substantiallyreduced the amount of variation in size or diameter of the sliver as itis directed into the can and crimping of the sliver has maintained anyvariations therein substantially constant from the time they enter thecan until the sliver has passed through subsequent machine processes,thus greatly improving the texture and quality of the roving and yarnsubsequently made from such slivers.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5, it will be observed that each of thestationary shaft-supporting blocks 33 has a pair of ears 45 thereonwhich overlie adjacent front and rear portions of the correspondingcalender roll stand 27 and each of the cars 45 has an adjustment screw46 threaded therethrough whose lower end bears against the upper surfaceof the corresponding calender roll stand 27. Thus, by adjusting thescrews 46, since opposite sides of the blocks 32 engage angularlydisposed surfaces of the openings 32 formed in the correspondingcalender roll stands 37, it is apparent that the shaft 36 and thefloating calender rolls 35 journaled thereon are adjusted toward andaway from the driven shaft 30 and the driven calender rolls 34,respectively, to accommodate various kinds and/or sizes of slivers.

Since the floating calender roll 35, in each instance, is driven solelyby the stock passing through the nip of the calender rolls 34, 35, thisobviates the necessity of providing different sizes of gears between themain drive of the machine or the drafting rolls 14, 16 and the shaft 30,as has heretofore been required, whenever the sliver is drawn throughthe nip of the calender rolls at an un- "desirable rate of speed. Thespeed of the sliver 8-1 is relatively high when the fluted calenderrolls 34, 35 are closely intermeshed (Figure 3) as compared to its speedwhen the rolls 34, 35 are loosely intermeshed because, the closer thefluted calender rolls 34, 35 of a unit are to each other, the greaterthe surface area of the flutes engaged by the sliver. In other words,the flutes of each roll press the sliver into the grooves between theflutes of the mating roll further and more compactly as the rolls areadjusted closer together so that a greater amount of stock is drawntherebetween than is the case when they are adjusted further apart fromeach other.

This is one of the most important features of the present inventionbecause it often happens that it is desirable to process different typesof slivers in adjacent roll sections and calender roll units of a givendrawing frame or the like. For example, one sliver may be formed solelyfrom cotton fibers, another may be formed from a blend of cotton fibersand synthetic fibers, etc. This has not been possible heretofore due tothe fact that all slivers on a given machine had to be drawn through thecalender rolls at the same speed, with the result that one or moreslivers would become too taut or break between the drafting zone and thecalender rolls while other slivers would become unduly slackened. Thiscondition is overcome with the improved fluted calender roll units 20because 5. the displacement at the nip of mating fluted calender rollsis adjustable independently of the rolls of adjacent units. This is trueeven where the fluted idler calender rolls 35 of two adjacent units 20are mounted on a same shaft, since the block 33 at either end of eachshaft 36 may be adjusted toward or away from the driving shaft 30independently of the block 33 at the other end of the correspondingshaft.

Second form of invention Referring to Figures 7 through 12, there isshown the second form of the invention in which the improved flutedcalender rolls are shown in association with a coiler head of the typeused with carding machines, for example. A carding machine is anotherembodiment of sliver processing instrumentalities. In this instance, thecoiler head comprises a platform 50 which overlies the usual can, notshown, and which is supported on a hollow pedestal or post 51, upwardlythrough which a conventionally driven shaft 52 extends. The shaft 52also extends through a gear box 53 fixed on the platform 50 and in whichgear box a pinion or gear 54 is posit oned and fixed on the shaft 52.The gear 54 meshes with a conventional tube gear or disk 55 having anupwardly and inwardly extending passageway or tube 56 thereon into whicha sliver 8-2 is di-' rected by a pair of fluted calender rolls which arepeculiar to the present invention and are similar to the calender rolls34, 35 in Figures 1, 2,- 3, 4 and 6.

The gear box 53 has the usual cover or trumpet tongue 61 pivotallymounted thereon. The trumpet tongue 61 has a conventional trumpet 62positioned therein for condensing the sliver as it is drawn from thecarding ma chine, for example, and directing the same through the nip ofthe improved calender rolls 57, 58. The upper end of the driven shaft 52has a bevel gear 64 fixed thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 65fixed on one end of a shaft 66 which is the equivalent of the drivenshaft 30 in the original form of the invention. The calender roll 57 isfixed on the end of the shaft 66 remote from the gear 65 and the shaft66 is journaled in a bearing structure 67 carried by a support orbracket 70 which is suitably secured to or formed integral with the gearbox 53 and extends inwardly and terminates short of the vertical planeof the open upper end of the tube or passageway 56.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to drive the second calenderroll 58 by means of suitable gears fixed on the shaft 66 and on a shafton which the second calender roll 58 was fixedly mounted. However, inthis instance, the second or floating fluted calender roll 58 is in theform of a shell or tube and is pressed onto a bushing 71 which serves asthe outer race of an anti-friction hearing and which has suitablegrooves in the inner peripheral surface thereof in which circular rowsof balls 72 are positioned, the inner surfaces of the balls 72 alsobeing positioned in suitable grooves 73 formed in the periphery of astationary shaft 74. Opposite ends of bushing 71 are preferably providedwith suitable lubricant seals 71a, 71b.

The stationary shaft 74 is fixed in a pivoted adjustable bracket 75which has a relatively broad outwardly projecting portion 76 thereonwhich is loosely penetrated by a shaft 77. The shaft 77 is fixed in apair of upwardly projecting portions 80 integral with or suitablysecured to the support 70. It will be observed in Figures 9 and that thebracket 75 also has an ear portion 81 projecting inwardly therefrom andoverlying the bearing assembly 67 in which shaft 66 is journaled. Theear 81 has an adjustment screw or set screw 82 threaded therethroughwhich bears against the upper surface of the bearing assembly 67 and, byadjusting the screw 82, since the pivot shaft 77 is disposedsubstantially below the level of the shaft 66, it is apparent that thefloating fluted calender roll 58 may be adjusted toward and away fromthe driven fluted calender roll 57.

The flutes on the calender rolls 57, 58 are also provided with apressure angle of eight degrees and it is therefore apparent that thecalender rolls 57, 58 function in the same manner as the calender rolls34, 35 of the first form of theinvention to maintain traction betweenthe sliver S4 and the calender rolls as the calender rolls 57, 58 drawthe sliver S-2 therebetween and feed the same into the tube 56 of thetube gear 55. It is also apparent that the rolls 57, 58 severally crimpthe sliver to maintain the substantially uniform density in the sliveras it is directed into the corresponding can and to also impartincreased tensile strength to the sliver. Of course, it is apparent thatthe roll 58 may be adjusted toward and away from the roll 57 by means ofthe screw 82, in the manner heretofore described, to accommodate sliversof varying types and/or sizes.

Here again, it is important to note that the speed of the sliver throughthe calender rolls is not necessarily dependent upon the speed of theshaft 52 or the machine with which the coiler mechanism may beassociated. Instead, the speed of the sliver is determined, to asubstantial extent, by the relative positions of the calender rolls.This is important in a carding machine, especially in view of the factthat variations in temperature and humidity, among other factors, maycause a given type of sliver to run slack, at times, and taut at othertimes. Such variations in sliver characteristics can be readilycompensated for merely by adjusting the screw 82in the proper direction(Figures 7, 9 and 10).

It is thus seen that I have provided improved calender roll units fordirecting sliver into coiler mechanisms wherein the calender rolls arefluted with the flutes being provided with eight degree pressure anglesinstead of the more commonly used fourteen and one-half degree pressureangles and wherein only one of the calender rolls of a pair is drivenwhile the other of the calender rolls of said pair is a floating roll oris loosely mounted so as to be driven solely by the contact of the stockpassing through the nip of the complementary fluted calender rolls andwhereby the calender rolls function to insure thatthe sliver isuniformly passed through the nip of the calender rolls without slippage;to control the speed at which the sliver is fed to the tube gear by thecalender rolls; and to cause crimping of the sliver at closely spacedintervals to thereby substantially lend to the tensile strength of thesliver as it is subsequently directed into the can so the sliver willnot tear apart or become abnormally stretched during the subsequentdrawing of the sliver from the cans and in subsequent sliver processingoperations.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for processing textile fibers in sliver form, saidmachine having processing instrumentalities and a coiler including arotating inclined tube mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; thecombination of an improved calender roll unit comprising a driven shaft,a second shaft extending parallel to the driven shaft, a first flutedcalender roll fixed on the driven shaft, a second fluted calender rollloosely journaled on the second shaft and meshing with the first roll,and the nip of the fluted rolls being disposed closely above the openupper end of the inclined tube.

2. In a structure according to claim '1, means for adjusting the secondshaft to vary the displacement between the mating surfaces of the firstand second fluted rolls.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the flutes on the flutedrolls each has a pressure angle of eight degrees.

4. In a drawing machine for processing textile fibers in sliver form,said machine having drafting rolls, a coiler including a rotatinginclined tube mounted for rotafion about a e al axi d a mp spa e ah s hea l r he mbinat n of a m r sa sn e I0 1 unit comprisinga driven shaft, asecond shaft extending parallel to the driven shaft, said shaftsextending horiiontally between the trumpet and the coiler, a firstfluted calender roll fixed on the driven shaft, a second fluted calenderroll loosely journaled on the second shaft and meshing with the firstroll beneath said trumpet, and the nip of the fluted rolls beingdisposed closely above the open upper end of the inclined tube fordrawing the sliver through the trumpet and into the tube.

5. A structure according to claim 4, wherein the flutes on the flutedrolls each has a pressure angle of eight degrees.

6. In a coiler mechanism for receiving a length of sliver from a sourceand having means for coiling the sliver into a can, and a rotating shaftdisposed adjacent the coiling means; the combination of a firsthorizontal shaft journaled above the coiling means in a fixed part ofsaid mechanism, a bracket pivoted on said fixed part for pivotalmovement substantially parallel to said first shaft, gear meansconnecting-the first shaft with the rotating shaft, a second horizontalshaft fixed to said bracket, extending substantially parallel to saidfirst shaft and located between the pivot point of the bracket and thefirst shaft, a first fluted calender roll fixed on the first shaft, asecond fluted calender roll journaled on the second shaft and meshingwith the first roll, the nip of the rolls being positioned for feedingthe sliver into the coiling means, and means to adjust the bracket aboutits pivot point to vary the displacement between the mating surfaces ofthe fluted rolls to vary the speed at which the sliver is fed into thecoiling means. i

7. A structure according to'claim 6, wherein the flutes on the flutedrolls each has a pressure angle of eight degrees.

8. In a drawing machine for processing textile fibers in sliver form,said machine having drafting rolls, spaced drawing roll stands eachprovidedwith an inclined slot in its upper surface, a coiler including arotating inclined tube mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and atrumpet spaced above the coiler; the combination of an improved calenderroll unit comprising a driven shaft, a second shaft extending parallelto the driven shaft, said shafts extending horizontally between thetrumpet and the coiler, a first fluted calender roll fixed on the drivenshaft, a second fluted calender roll loosely journaled on the secondshaft and meshing with the first roll beneath said trumpet, the nip ofthefluted rolls being disposed closely above the open upper end of theinclined tube for drawing the sliver through the trumpet and into thetube, said driven shaft being journaled in said stands adjacent saidslots, a block adjustably mounted in each slot, opposite ends of thesecond shaft being fixed in adjacent pairs of said blocks, ears on theupper end of each block overlying adjacent portions of the correspondingroll stands, adjustment screws threaded through said ears and engagingsaid portions, and said slots being inclined upwardly and away from thedriven shaft whereby adjustment of the screws adjusts the displacementbetween the mating surfaces of the fluted rolls to vary the speed of thesliver passing therebetween.

9. In a machine for processing textile fibers in sliver form, saidmachine having processing instrumentalities and a coiler including arotating inclined tube mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; thecombination of an improved calender roll unit comprising a driven shaft,a first fluted calender roll fixed on the driven shaft, a second flutedcalender roll supported for free rotational movement on an axis parallelto the axis of, and meshing with, the first roll, and the nip of thefluted rolls being disposed closely above the open upper end of the ncined t be- 10. In a structure according to claim 9, means to adjustablyvary the displacement between the first and second calender rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS532,405 Threlfall Jan. 8, 1895 572,433 Meats et al. Dec. 1, 1896 638,975Mills-ct al Dec. 12, 1899 802,492 Birch Oct. 24, 1905 1,825,784 EngleOct. 6, 1931 2,419,320 Lohrke Apr. 22, 1947 2,693,008 Upton et a1, Nov.2, 1954

